1996 A4 2.8 to 1.8t swap build

[vanghis109]

Hello Everyone,

The story behind this car is basically when I was going through a rough time in my life I was offered this car and it made my life and family transportation so much easier and has lasted me so long that I became attached to it and even when offered money to sell I couldn't let it go.

First off the setup I currently have is as follows:
-1.8t AEB drive by cable engine, With Tuned ECU
-1.8t radiator support
-1.8t radiator
-1.8t Power steering resevior and lines
-1.8t AC condensor etc parts.
-1.8t Exhaust parts
-Entire engine. No trans
-2.8 Trans to 1.8t

The plan is
1)Install Pilot Bearing and (Ordered) Clutch Kit
2)Pull original Engine from transmission
3)Mount 1.8t Engine to 2.8 transmission
4)Install 1.8t parts in place of old (ie. Rad support, Radiator, PS ines etc.)
4)Wire it all up swap out ECU and connections
5)Start her up and pray it works.

Feel free to let me know if you have any other suggestions.

Pictures Below.
Before


After

[thedownwardsprl]

I still wanna ask but eh...Lol

[seanf86]

do you have the 1.8t exhaust to swap in as well or are figuring it out after the engines in the car?

[thedownwardsprl]

And i have that clutch. ..it was strong for five minutes and for some reason went soft. ..idk how to explain it. It was squeal wheels to nail gas and dump in like 2 miles

[vanghis109]

Yes, I have the full exhaust from the 1.8t as well. So that clutch no good? should I got with a stage 1 or 2? any suggestions on clutch?

[Avant Nate]

your forgetting the main reason, bigger turbo.

[vanghis109]

Nate that is one of my biggest reasons going 1.8t but right now the plan is to swap it with tuned chip and drive it while I accumulate bigger turbo and internals for install. Currently its still got the 2.8 and running strong so It may not be a bad Idea to do before I put the thing in.

[Bordom]

A 97 1.8t parts car would be your best bet. Engine wiring harness and everything miscellaneous you may need.

Wiring will be your biggest hurdle.

I'm subscribing as I may want to do this as well in the future

EDIT: pictures of the car would also be much appreciated

[Mad Cow]

You'll either need a parts car, or at least access to a few junked cars because there's a ton of small miscellaneous parts you'll need to swap over. I can't possibly list them all since there's so many, it's one of those things where you figure out as you go along. Off the top of my head you're forgetting intercooler & bracket and fuel lines, there will be much more though. When I did the swap the actual work was less than 20% or the time it took, the rest was tracking down parts and waiting. Wiring will probably be a PITA because you have a 12v with the hitachi ecu which uses completely different plugs to connect to the rest of your car, you might end up having to pull your dash and swap the dash harness with one from a 97 or 98.

[GrapeBandit]

hey. . .

[vanghis109]

Oh thats something I didn't know. So should I pull entire wiring from motor car, still have access to all of it

[vanghis109]

Also I do have all intercooler parts, but undecided if i will swap in ebay kit yet. If there is anything else you can think of i would appreciste it. I still have access to parts car so I can still grab.

[vanghis109]

Thanks grape very handy, i did not find thay in my searches. Nice to find an actual post with real info haha

[vanghis109]

Just got my Dash, Heater core replacement, and Power steering lines. Now just waiting on clutch kit.